4 Tips on How to Take Good Pictures

Do you see beautiful pictures on social media and think, how do they do this? Would you like to learn? Today is your lucky day! I’m going to share what I view as the 4 most important tips on how to take good pictures.

When I started my blog, I learned it was imperative I learn photography. Luckily, one of my good friends is a professional photographer and model, so he was the perfect starting point for me to learn. Having experience from both sides of the lens, Ben has a unique perspective which allows him to create beautiful works of art. Who better to teach me, right?

Ben is a professional, so his skills are way more advanced than mine. But in taking his class and having him give me points here and there, I learned the basic art of taking a good picture. Improve your picture quality by implementing the following 4 points:

1. Lighting is Everything

What do these pictures have in common?

Manhattan Beach Sunset

Mammoth Lakes at dusk

Hermosa Beach, cloud covered rainy morning

These pictures were taken early in the morning or late in the afternoon which are the best times to get optimal natural light for photography. Pictures facing directly into the sun will not turn out. Try and take your pictures during these times and you will need little or no editing. June gloom and May gray days (as we know them in Southern California) are perfect days to take pictures!

At the very least, take your pictures in shadows when taking portrait shots. Don’t take pictures in direct sunlight or the lighting will hit your face and body in unflattering ways. I learned this the hard way when I asked Ben to take my About Me page shot at one of my favorite restaurants (The Strand House) since it was the perfect representation for my blog. We could only get in at 11am, and it was super sunny. Ben took 450 pictures. The lighting hit my face in all the wrong places! I think we ended up using the 449th pic, reluctantly, after heavy editing.

2. For Landscape Pictures, Get Low

It seems obvious now that I know this, but I had no idea until Ben told me. When you take the picture from the lowest point and can capture more of the sky, the picture will show the viewer more of the landscape.

Iphone shot during my run

Iphone shot while having a cocktail

IPhone shot during my run

Iphone shot at the skatepark – dusk

Iphone shot during my run

Can you see what I mean by getting low? This is why you see photographers laying on the ground sometimes. The viewer wants to live vicariously through the picture. Also, blues and greens give a calming effect to the viewer. Pictures with a lot of blues are known to do the best on social media.

3. Make Background Blurry

This is more tricky and requires a DSLR camera. If you have a basic Canon Rebel, buy the nifty 50 lens which costs about $125. It allows the aperture setting to go as low as 1.8 which will give you the blurry background you want. Did I lose you? Ok, skip this point for now but come back later because this is an important feature to learn.

BUT at the very least, on your iphone, make sure to double tap on the subject before taking the picture. This will put the subject in focus. Sometimes the phone will create a blurry background for you if the lighting is right.

The pictures in this section were all taken by me with a Canon Rebel/Nifty 50 or a Canon EOS 6D (professional grade camera).

4. Use the Rule of Thirds

This is a rule of thumb which applies to the process of composing visual images. Divide the image into nine equal parts. Aligning a subject with these points creates more interest in the composition.

See how I am at the left third of the picture? And the flowers reach up to 2/3rds of the picture? This creates a more visually appealing view than if I was centered and the flowers went to the top of the frame.

Rule of thirds

Rule of thirds with the boys on the right, and the water line 1/3 height (more or less).

Rule of thirds with me on right

There is so much more to share, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Practice these for now and then visit my Tips for Portraits. Please be sure to comment on how these tips helped you so I am motivated to keep sharing!

Ben’s pictures on his website are available for custom orders (prices are on his site as well). My husband and I purchased 3 pieces already for our great room and bathroom in our home, and for our patient lobby in my husband’s medical office. The acrylic prints (you can choose canvas too) have a modern feel with a glass like finish. We love his work – I think you will agree when you take a look at his portfolio.

I can’t believe I am giving tips about how to take good pictures! If you saw some shots I took a few years ago, you would have bet against me being able to successfully learn these skills. If I can do it, anyone can!

Flavor Your Life With an Ounce of Salt. A lifestyle blog by Jen Oliak.

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It snowed another 3 feet in Mammoth since yesterday afternoon! Wish we could stay but it’s time to head home. Do you listen to audiobooks or podcasts on long drives? What’s the latest one you enjoyed? I’ve got a bunch of half listened-to books stored in my phone and have maxed out on productivity/mindset podcasts... I need some drive-home inspo! ... See MoreSee Less